Toothbrush sterilizing tube



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Maren 12, 1947 r-"SEE i INVENTOR. z/@E/VE 1 HUBER E' wwwr ATTCI R N EYE June 22,1948. E J HUBER 2,443,169

TOOTH BRUSH STERILIZING TUBE Cz/GENE (1M/5E@ ATTE! RN EYE IN VEN TOR.

Patented June 22, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOOTHBRUSH STERILIZING TUBE Eugene J. Huber, New Orleans, La.

Application March 12, 1947, Serial No. 734,137

1 claim. l

This invention relates to a tooth brush sterilizer and retainer and the primary object of the invention is to provide a device of this character that will sterilize a number of brushes at the same time, without the brushes being in contact with each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character that is compact, simple to operate, efficient to use and economical to manufacture.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists of the novel details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view thereof partly in section and Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the reference numeral I designates the mounting base of the sterilizer embodying the invention, which is provided with openings II at the opposite ends thereof, whereby the base is mounted on a wall or other suitable support.

Extending longitudinally of the base IIJ is a compartment or tank I2 which is adapted to hold a germicidal preparation. Secured to the base plate I0 by fasteners I3 is the face plate I4 provided with the tubular container I5 for holding tooth brushes or the like. The containers are relatively spaced from each other by depressed areas I6, through which the fasteners I3 extend, and a gasket I'I is interposed between the base IIJ and plate I4, to provide a seal for the compartment I2, and the filling and ldrainage bowl I 8, as well as each compartment. The base I0 and plate I4 are made from glass or transparent plastic, and if these two are molded as a unit, the gasket I'I can be eliminated.

'I'he bowl I8 is provided with a filling plug I9 and a drainage plug 20, and the bowl I8 communicates with the compartment I2, as shown in Figure 3. Each container I5 is provided with a, pair of downwardly inclined openings 2I which communicate with the compartment I2 so that fumes from the germicidal preparation will pass therefrom into the containers. The lower ends of the openings 2I extend below the level of the preparation in the container, while the upper ends are above the compartment level. Therefore, germs cannot pass from one container to another without passing through the compartment I2, and the preparation therein. Thus all germs will be destroyed before they can contaminate the brushes in each of their respective containers.

Each container I5 is open at its respective bottom, and the open bottom of each container is closed by a closure 22 which is provided with apertured ears 23 whereby the closures are hinged to the plate I4 by pin bolts and nuts 24 mounted in apertured ears 25 on the plate I4, and a spring 26 tensions each closure to maintain it in contact with the open bottom of its respective container I5,

A projection 21 on each closure is provided, so that if a persons finger is placed thereon and pressed downward, the closure can be opened to remove or insert a tooth brush into each container, a depression 28 being formed in the prov* jecton to rest the tip of the linger therein.

Each of the closures is provided with a gasket 29 to provide a seal for the open bottom of the container and closure.

Each tooth brush 30 is retained in its individual container, access -to which is obtained by opening the closure 22 to each container as previously described. Fumes passing into the containers from the compartment I2 will destroy all germs on the brushes, and the containers will be properly sterilized for a period of several months. Thus the brushes are retained in their respective containers in a sterilized condition, protected from contamination by germ carrying insects, dust or similiar items having germ carrying properties.

There has thus been provided, a device which will accomplish the objects of the invention, and it is believed that from the foregoing description, the operation and construction of the device will be apparent to those skilled vin the art. It is also to be understood that changes in the minor `details of construction, arrangement and combi- Y nation of parts may be resorted to, provided they fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

l0 Number drainage bowl on said face plate having communication with said compartment.

EUGENE J. HUBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 1,981,383 Feidon Nov. 2o, 1934 

